20 things you must do in Santa Fe, New Mexico

It's the heart of the city. While most state capitals are stacked with skyscrapers and traffic, Santa Fe has a small square with vibrant shops. Lined with Spanish markets, kitschy stores, and high-end restaurants, this is what separates Santa Fe from the crowd.

One of the kitschy spots in the plaza is La Fonda, a hotel that looks like a Western saloon. While there may be no more shootouts in this Wild West establishment, you can have a Mexican standoff with your fellow visitors at the beautiful rooftop bar, where people fight for drinks.

The staircase in Loretto Chapel is an architectural marvel. A quirky curiosity, the staircase was built without nails and twirls in ways that don't seem walkable. It's the staircase version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It's a blend of Roman and New Mexican influences, with some Gothic flourishes sprinkled throughout — the Cathedral of St. Francis is a gorgeous blend of architectural styles. Inside, you can find devotional paintings and carved statues that glow luminously from stained glass windows and natural light. 

There are vistas in Santa Fe, alright. Everywhere you look you can see vast desert plains, looming mountains and startling lush foliage, which is why the Vista Trail is so aptly named. Running along five miles of mountain ridge, this is a great way to see the town's more natural side.

With scenery like this, it's no wonder so many artists called Santa Fe home. The landscape is a playground for the artistic mind, with endless blue skies that serve as a canvas for stark red sands and bright green trees, wild flowers and tamed streams. Georgia O' Keefe painted these landscapes better than anyone. You can find the most extensive collection of her paintings in Santa Fe.

You wouldn't think one of the country's pristine opera houses would be located in the desert, but it's there, alright. Tucked away from the city, this open-air theater is an architectural splendor with a view of the stars. On stage and above you, the stars shine bright at Santa Fe Opera House. 

What the heck is folk art? I really don't know, but the largest collection you can find is located in Santa Fe. Boasting pieces from Africa, India, Asia and Italy, this is a great way to immerse yourself in ancient cultures. 

It's 32,000 acres of rugged, unvarnished canyon country, with Petroglyphs that have been around for who knows how long. It's like walking through a different era, when people lived in cave dwellings and the only notifications they got were their stomachs rumbling, telling them that they needed to eat.

Do you like sunsets? If you don't, what's wrong with you? The majority of you would love a great sunset at Martyr's Park, located above the city with a magnificent west-facing view. It's one of the things that makes a trip to Santa Fe so fun: the great sunsets.

This place is hipster, woke, and not at all what you expect from this part of the country, but that's part of what makes Santa Fe stand out. The Railyard is a section of the city that embodies much of what this city has to offer, from the progressive locals to the vibrant food, the vivid art, and the delicious drinks. Railyard is Santa Fe being Santa Fe. 

You can find Gruet at your local grocery store, but you won't find the same assortment of wines as you would at their tasting room. From their Reserve wines to their Sauvage Rose, which is certainly one of the lightest, savviest, bubbliest wines on the market, this chic tasting room offers a delicious taste of local wine. 

If you want to learn more about New Mexico, this is a good way to do it. While it can occasionally feel like a history class (snooze), this is a thoughtful, informative, and textured look at how Santa Fe came to be. 

People like to rant about "kids these days" whenever they see graffiti, but it turns out graffiti has been around for centuries. In the form of Petroglyphs, people would convey a message on rocks that they would like to share with the public. At La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs, you can see these images on full display. 

Most cities have botanical gardens as an escape from the hustle and bustle--the traffic and skyscrapers--but the botanical garden of Santa Fe seems more like an extension of the city. It's another example of nature in Santa Fe.

Bring your luggage and your appetite when visiting Santa Fe--the food in town is incredible. A mix of Mexican restaurants, high-end cuisine, and hefty Midwest food, Santa Fe offers a feast of food options, but we recommend you stick with the Mexican food.

It's the oldest church in the country. A pueblo-style building that seemed to inspire its surroundings, it's not as aesthetically gorgeous as Loretto Church or Basilica Church, but the building remains a treat to look at. 

Origami statues are placed alongside rugged nature in this art installation. It's a blossoming art installation that's pollinated by the nature that surrounds it.

Get out in nature at River Park Trail when the river runs at River Park Trail, the desert blooms into a lush forest of foliage.

There's no better way to enjoy Santa Fe than being with those you love. We recommend you catch a sunset with someone you love and watch the incredible vistas turn into a moving, living painting.